Improvement in harvesters



UNITED 4STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

SAMUEL K. `LIGHTER, OF HAMILTON, OHIO.l

IMPROVEMENT I'N HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,488, dated November 3, 1863.

thereof, reference being had to the accompanyl ing drawings, making part ot' this specification.

combining the advantages both of a stili' and of a limber tongue without the use of trucks or truclewheels.

A A representsa portion of the main beam. B isapeculiarly formed and attached bracket, fastened to the side of the beam A by means of a center bolt or pivot, O, and two tighteningbolts, D D', which traverse slots E E in the bracket, said slots forming arcs of a circle concentric with the pivot C. p To this bracket B the tongue F is secured through the medium of a wedge-formed block, H, which I term the socket-block.7 The top of the block H sloping upward toward the front enables the tongue F to be set at a less pitch or forward depression than the top of the bracket B, for a purpose hereinafter explained. Alip, h, depending from the front ofthe socket-block enables the latter to clip the front edge of the bracket. Cheeks h It oli top of the socket-block embrace and hold the sides of the tongue, and oblige the tongue and socket block to move together as one piece. A pivot, G, confines the tongue and socket-block F H to vibrations in the plane of the bracket-top, so that when the bracket B is set with a forward pitch, as represented, the tongue-point, in swinging to one side, will sweep somewhat upward, so as to relieve the necks of the team in the act of turning.

I is a dog, which being pressed within a notch, J, in the socket-block by means of a spring, K, holds the tongue stiff. A pedal or trigger, L, connected to the dog I, enables the driver to liberate the tongue on arriving at the end of a swath, and to turn the corner with a limber tongue, so as to avoid gallin g the necks ofthe animals. The frame, being thus disengaged from rigid connection with the tongue, swings easily around the tread ofthe master- My improvement relates to a provision forwheel as a center until its momentum brings it again in line with the tongue, when the dog erable to those whosetongue is mounted on a truck, because the cutting is resumed with more accnrf'a-cy from its comparative exemption from leeway or side slip, especially on sliding ground, and also in consequence of its automatic conversion to the form of a stili'- tongued machine. The form described is that which I deem best adapted to carry out the purposes of my invention but I do not propose to limit myself precisely thereto so long as the same results are attained by means substantially equivalent. For example, the tongue and socket-block may be formed of' a single piece, the lower side of the tongue tapering rearward and being shod with an iron plate, which maybe provided with the lip h. The adjustable bracket B may be replaced by a flange, permanently attached to the frame in such position as to have the desired pitch. The trigger LA may be a lever -of the second kind, andvm-ay be pressed down instead of being thrust forward to release the dog.

I clairnherein as new and of my inventionl. In the decribedcombination, the pivot G, dog I, spring K, and trigger L, or devices s-ubstantially equivalent, whereby the tongue of a harvesting-machine is rendered laterally limber at the option of the operator and restored automatically to the rigid condition,A substantially as set forth.

2. The'provision between a laterally-limber tongue, F, andthe main frame of a harvester of the wedge-formed socket-block H, and inclined or adjustable bracket B, or devices substantially equivalent.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

s. K. LIGHTER.

' Witnesses GEO. H.KNIGHT, GEO. F. DYMOND. 

